PR Newswire
NATICK, Mass., Nov. 4, 2026
NATICK, Mass., Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX), the global technology leader in industrial machine vision, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended October 4, 2026.
Third-Quarter Financial and Operating Highlights
"Our third-quarter results reflect strong execution across the business, with record revenue, broad-based growth across most of our major end markets, and continued progress against our strategic objectives," said Matt Moschner, President and CEO. "We believe we are strengthening our leadership in AI-powered machine vision through innovation, expanding our long-term growth opportunity through the announced acquisition of RealSense, and continuing to help position Cognex to benefit from what we see as powerful trends in automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence."
Dennis Fehr, CFO, added, "We believe Q3 was another strong proof point for our profitable growth strategy. Record revenue, significant margin expansion, and Adjusted EBITDA flow-through above 100% demonstrate the progress we have made transforming our operating model. Our strong balance sheet and disciplined capital allocation strategy enabled us to pursue the RealSense acquisition, while retaining flexibility to invest in both organic and inorganic growth opportunities with the potential to create further value for shareholders."
Financial Performance Highlights for the Third Quarter (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | |||||||||
Three-months ended | |||||||||
October 04, 2026 | September 28, 2025 as Reported | September 28, 2025 ex CP | Y/Y Change as Reported | Y/Y Change ex CP | |||||
Revenue | $313 | $277 | $264 | +13 % | +19 % | ||||
Operating Income | $101 | $58 | $47 | +74 % | +115 % | ||||
% of Revenue | 32.2 % | 20.9 % | 17.9 % | +1,130 bps | +1,430 bps | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA1 | $111 | $69 | $58 | 61 % | +91 % | ||||
% of Revenue | 35.5 % | 24.9 % | 22.1 % | +1,060 bps | +1,340 bps | ||||
Net Income per Diluted Share | $0.50 | $0.10 | $0.06 | +400 % | +733 % | ||||
Adjusted EPS (Diluted)1 | $0.53 | $0.33 | $0.28 | +61 % | +89 % | ||||
1Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS (Diluted) include non-GAAP adjustments. A reconciliation from GAAP to non-GAAP metrics is provided in this news release. | |||||||||
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights
Dividend
On November 4, 2026, Cognex's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share, representing an increase of $0.005 per share, or approximately 6%, over the $0.085 per share dividend paid in the prior quarter. The dividend is payable on December 3, 2026, to all shareholders of record at the close of business on November 19, 2026.
Guidance
Cognex issued fourth-quarter guidance and increased full-year 2026 guidance; details are summarized in the tables below.
Table 1: Fourth-Quarter 2026 Guidance
(Dollars in millions, except per | Q4 2026 Guidance | Q4 2025 Results | Y/Y Change* | ||
Revenue | $270 - $290 | $252 | +11 % | ||
Adj. EBITDA Margin1 | 29% - 32% | 22.7 % | +780 bps | ||
Adj. EPS (diluted)1 | $0.37 - $0.41 | $0.27 | +44 % |
Table 2: Full-Year 2026 Guidance
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | New 2026 Guidance | Prior 2026 Guidance | 2025 Results | 2025 Results | Y/Y Change* | Y/Y Change* | ||
Revenue | $1,143 - $1,163 | $1,130 - $1,150 | $994 | $982 | +16 % | +17 % | ||
Adj. EBITDA Margin1 | 31% - 32% | 29% - 31% | 21.5 % | 20.7 % | +1,000 bps | +1,080 bps | ||
Adj. EPS (diluted)1 | $1.68 - $1.72 | $1.64 - $1.68 | $1.02 | $0.97 | +67 % | +75 % |
* At the midpoint of guidance. |
1Cognex has provided the forward-looking non-GAAP measures of adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted earnings per share (diluted), but cannot, without unreasonable effort, forecast such items to present or provide a reconciliation to corresponding forecasted GAAP measures. These include special items such as reorganization charges, acquisition and integration charges, and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, all of which are subject to limitations in predictability of timing, ultimate outcome and numerous conditions outside of Cognex's control. Additionally, these items are outside of Cognex's normal business operations and not used by management to assess Cognex's operating results. Cognex believes these limitations would result in a range of projected values so broad as to not be meaningful to investors. For these reasons, Cognex believes that the probable significance of such information is low. Information with respect to special items for certain historical periods is included in the section entitled "Reconciliation of Selected Items From GAAP to Non-GAAP". In Q4 2025, the GAAP operating margin was 14.0% and GAAP earnings per share (diluted) were $0.19, and in full-year 2025, the GAAP operating margin was 16.3% and GAAP earnings per share (diluted) were $0.68. |
Analyst Conference Call and Simultaneous Webcast
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release, as well as oral statements made by Cognex Corporation ("Cognex", "we", "us", "our", or the "Company") from time to time, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers can identify these forward-looking statements by our use of the words "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "potential," "believes," "projects," "intends," "plans," "aims," "will," "may," "shall," "could," "should," "opportunity," "goal," "objective," "target," "milestone" and similar words and other statements of a similar sense. These statements are based on our current estimates and expectations as to prospective events and circumstances, which may or may not be in our control and as to which there can be no firm assurances given. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding business and market trends, future financial performance, financial targets, milestones and related timing expectations, the closing, timing, integration, and expected results from acquired businesses, including RealSense, Inc. ("RealSense"), the impact of tariffs, customer demand and order rates and timing of related revenue, future product or revenue mix, research and development activities, sales and marketing activities including our salesforce transformation, new product offerings, innovation and product development activities, customer acceptance of our products, commercial partnerships, capital expenditures, cost management activities including expected annualized operating expense reductions, investments, liquidity, dividends and stock repurchases, strategic and growth plans and opportunities, financial and operating models, and estimated tax benefits and expenses, changes in tax legislation, and other tax matters, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include: (1) the technological obsolescence of current products, the inability to develop new products, and the inability to achieve growth through expanding and adjacent markets; (2) the impact of competitive pressures; (3) the inability to attract and retain skilled employees and effectively plan for succession, while maintaining our unique corporate culture; (4) the failure to properly manage the timely manufacturing and distribution of high-quality products and services; (5) economic, political, and other risks associated with international sales and operations, including the impact of trade disputes, the imposition of tariffs, the economic climate in China, and the wars and conflicts involving Iran, Ukraine, and Israel and those that may arise in the future in the geographies where we conduct business; (6) challenges in closing, integrating, and achieving expected results from acquired businesses, including RealSense, as well as exposure to potential liabilities and increased costs from acquired businesses; (7) uncertainty surrounding our future capital needs; (8) the inability to effectively scale our operations and salesforce to support a significantly expanded and diverse customer base in an increasing number of geographies; (9) information security breaches and other cybersecurity threats, including through the emergence of agentic AI; (10) the failure to comply with laws or regulations relating to data privacy, data protection, artificial intelligence, or other automated technologies; (11) the inability to protect our proprietary technology and data, as well as our intellectual property; (12) the inability to manage direct and indirect disruptions to our supply chain, which could cause delays in obtaining components for our products at reasonable prices, including memory chips; (13) the loss of, or curtailment of purchases by, large customers in the logistics, consumer electronics, or automotive end markets; (14) challenges in accurately forecasting our financial results due to seasonal and cyclical variations in customer purchasing patterns and economic and market volatility; (15) potential impairment charges with respect to our investments or acquired intangible assets; (16) exposure to additional tax liabilities, increases and fluctuations in our effective tax rate, and other tax matters; (17) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the use of derivative instruments; (18) unfavorable global economic conditions, including, without limitation, increases in interest rates, elevated inflation rates, and recession risks; (19) business disruptions from natural or man-made disasters, public health crises, or other events outside our control; (20) stock price volatility; (21) our involvement in time-consuming and costly litigation or activist shareholder activities; and (22) the failure to effectively transform our operating model, manage our expenses, and achieve expected cost reductions. The foregoing list should not be construed as exhaustive and we encourage readers to refer to the detailed discussion of risk factors included in Part I - Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (the "Annual Report"), as updated by Part II - Item 1A of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date such statements are made.
COGNEX CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||
October 4, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||
(unaudited) | |||
ASSETS | |||
Current assets: | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 694,695 | $ 262,925 | |
Current investments | 997 | 74,037 | |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $781 and $728 in 2026 and 2025, respectively | 216,720 | 146,713 | |
Unbilled revenue | 12,763 | 16,980 | |
Inventories | 158,453 | 137,889 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 68,206 | 58,702 | |
Total current assets | 1,151,834 | 697,246 | |
Non-current investments | 150,292 | 305,339 | |
Property, plant, and equipment, net | 79,720 | 86,015 | |
Operating lease assets | 66,153 | 72,310 | |
Goodwill | 386,105 | 386,279 | |
Intangible assets, net | 63,295 | 81,100 | |
Deferred income taxes | 374,517 | 383,272 | |
Other assets | 4,551 | 4,994 | |
Total assets | $ 2,276,467 | $ 2,016,555 | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||
Current liabilities: | |||
Accounts payable | $ 74,708 | $ 50,203 | |
Accrued expenses | 88,618 | 91,397 | |
Accrued income taxes | 10,627 | 9,141 | |
Deferred revenue and customer deposits | 42,450 | 21,094 | |
Operating lease liabilities | 12,314 | 11,716 | |
Total current liabilities | 228,717 | 183,551 | |
Non-current operating lease liabilities | 58,048 | 64,870 | |
Deferred income taxes | 243,132 | 250,512 | |
Reserve for income taxes | 23,000 | 24,269 | |
Other liabilities | 2,080 | 1,452 | |
Total liabilities | 554,977 | 524,654 | |
Shareholders' equity: | |||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value – Authorized: 400 shares in 2026 and 2025, respectively; no shares issued and outstanding | — | — | |
Common stock, $.002 par value – Authorized: 300,000 shares in 2026 and 2025, respectively; issued and outstanding: 168,372 and 166,997 shares in 2026 and 2025, respectively | 337 | 334 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 1,310,477 | 1,138,708 | |
Retained earnings | 467,646 | 406,355 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax | (56,970) | (53,496) | |
Total shareholders' equity | 1,721,490 | 1,491,901 | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ 2,276,467 | $ 2,016,555 | |
COGNEX CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||
Three-months Ended | Nine-months Ended | ||||||
October 4, 2026 | September 28, 2025 | October 4, 2026 | September 28, 2025 | ||||
Revenue | $ 313,387 | $ 276,892 | $ 873,087 | $ 742,021 | |||
Cost of revenue (1) | 91,644 | 89,602 | 254,632 | 242,532 | |||
Gross profit | 221,743 | 187,290 | 618,455 | 499,489 | |||
Percentage of revenue | 70.8 % | 67.6 % | 70.8 % | 67.3 % | |||
Research, development, and engineering expenses (1) | 33,897 | 35,081 | 103,313 | 102,910 | |||
Percentage of revenue | 10.8 % | 12.7 % | 11.8 % | 13.9 % | |||
Selling, general, and administrative expenses (1) | 87,024 | 94,444 | 268,930 | 269,289 | |||
Percentage of revenue | 27.8 % | 34.1 % | 30.8 % | 36.3 % | |||
Operating income | 100,822 | 57,765 | 246,212 | 127,290 | |||
Percentage of revenue | 32.2 % | 20.9 % | 28.2 % | 17.2 % | |||
Foreign currency gain (loss) | (744) | 840 | (2,951) | (3,116) | |||
Investment income | 3,358 | 4,197 | 13,285 | 12,227 | |||
Other income (expense) | (146) | 61 | (2,199) | 2,322 | |||
Income before income tax expense | 103,290 | 62,863 | 254,347 | 138,723 | |||
Income tax expense | 18,470 | 45,199 | 45,067 | 56,945 | |||
Net income | $ 84,820 | $ 17,664 | $ 209,280 | $ 81,778 | |||
Percentage of revenue | 27.1 % | 6.4 % | 24.0 % | 11.0 % | |||
Net income per weighted-average common and common- equivalent share: | |||||||
Basic | $ 0.50 | $ 0.11 | $ 1.25 | $ 0.49 | |||
Diluted | $ 0.50 | $ 0.10 | $ 1.23 | $ 0.48 | |||
Weighted-average common and common-equivalent shares outstanding: | |||||||
Basic | 168,309 | 167,840 | 167,377 | 168,324 | |||
Diluted | 171,027 | 169,323 | 169,860 | 169,507 | |||
Cash dividends per common share | $ 0.085 | $ 0.080 | $ 0.255 | $ 0.240 | |||
(1) Amounts include stock-based compensation expense, as follows: | |||||||
Cost of revenue | $ 592 | $ 489 | $ 2,109 | $ 1,694 | |||
Research, development, and engineering | 3,491 | 3,794 | 11,973 | 11,933 | |||
Selling, general, and administrative | 7,063 | 8,133 | 20,209 | 21,022 | |||
Total stock-based compensation expense | $ 11,146 | $ 12,416 | $ 34,291 | $ 34,649 | |||
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted gross profit and margin, adjusted operating expense, adjusted operating income and margin, adjusted EBITDA and margin, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share of common stock, diluted, adjusted effective tax rate, and free cash flow and free cash flow conversion rate. Cognex defines its non-GAAP metrics as follows:
Cognex may disclose results on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate its performance and compare results between periods as if the exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period.
Cognex believes these non-GAAP financial measures are helpful because they allow investors to more accurately compare results over multiple periods using the same methodology that management employs in its budgeting process, in its review of operating results, and for forecasting and planning for future periods. Cognex's definitions may differ from the definitions used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. In addition, other companies may not publish these or similar metrics. Furthermore, these measures have certain limitations in that they do not include the impact of certain non-recurring expenses that are reflected in our consolidated statement of operations that are necessary to run our business. Thus, our non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as substitutes for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Please see the section "Reconciliation of Selected Items from GAAP to Non-GAAP" below for more detailed information regarding non-GAAP financial measures herein, including the items reflected in our adjusted financial metrics and a description of these adjustments.
COGNEX CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED ITEMS FROM GAAP TO NON-GAAP Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts (Unaudited) | |||||||||
Three-months Ended | Nine-months Ended | ||||||||
October 4, 2026 | September 28, 2025 | October 4, 2026 | September 28, 2025 | ||||||
Gross profit (GAAP) | $ 221,743 | $ 187,290 | $ 618,455 | $ 499,489 | |||||
Acquisition and integration costs | 219 | 213 | 653 | 666 | |||||
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets | 1,317 | 1,379 | 3,977 | 4,099 | |||||
Reorganization charges | 274 | 400 | 1,569 | 486 | |||||
Adjusted gross profit | $ 223,553 | $ 189,282 | $ 624,654 | $ 504,740 | |||||
GAAP gross margin | 70.8 % | 67.6 % | 70.8 % | 67.3 % | |||||
Adjusted gross margin | 71.3 % | 68.4 % | 71.5 % | 68.0 % | |||||
Operating expense (GAAP) | $ 120,921 | $ 129,525 | $ 372,243 | $ 372,199 | |||||
Acquisition and integration costs | (2,553) | (180) | (2,583) | (977) | |||||
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets | (954) | (1,260) | (3,121) | (3,846) | |||||
Reorganization charges | (951) | (2,966) | (6,041) | (4,588) | |||||
Adjusted operating expense | $ 116,463 | $ 125,119 | $ 360,498 | $ 362,788 | |||||
Operating income (GAAP) | $ 100,822 | $ 57,765 | $ 246,212 | $ 127,290 | |||||
Acquisition and integration costs | 2,772 | 393 | 3,236 | 1,643 | |||||
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets | 2,271 | 2,639 | 7,098 | 7,945 | |||||
Reorganization charges | 1,225 | 3,366 | 7,610 | 5,074 | |||||
Adjusted operating income | $ 107,090 | $ 64,163 | $ 264,156 | $ 141,952 | |||||
GAAP operating margin | 32.2 % | 20.9 % | 28.2 % | 17.2 % | |||||
Adjusted operating margin | 34.2 % | 23.2 % | 30.3 % | 19.1 % | |||||
Depreciation (adjusted for amounts included in Acquisition and integration costs) | 4,309 | 4,666 | 13,139 | 14,844 | |||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 111,399 | $ 68,829 | $ 277,295 | $ 156,796 | |||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin | 35.5 % | 24.9 % | 31.8 % | 21.1 % | |||||
Net income (GAAP) | $ 84,820 | $ 17,664 | $ 209,280 | $ 81,778 | |||||
Acquisition and integration costs | 2,772 | 393 | 3,236 | 1,643 | |||||
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets | 2,271 | 2,639 | 7,098 | 7,945 | |||||
Reorganization charges | 1,225 | 3,366 | 7,610 | 5,074 | |||||
Loss on sale of business | — | — | 1,539 | — | |||||
Losses on sale of investments to fund acquisition | 2,407 | — | 2,407 | — | |||||
Discrete tax (benefit) expense | (1,454) | 33,650 | (2,183) | 33,132 | |||||
Tax impact of reconciling items | (2,242) | (1,615) | (5,982) | (3,871) | |||||
Adjusted net income | $ 89,799 | $ 56,097 | $ 223,005 | $ 125,701 | |||||
Earnings per share of common stock, diluted (GAAP) | $ 0.50 | $ 0.10 | $ 1.23 | $ 0.48 | |||||
Acquisition and integration costs | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.01 | |||||
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.05 | |||||
Reorganization charges | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.03 | |||||
Loss on sale of business | — | — | 0.01 | — | |||||
Losses on sale of investments to fund acquisition | 0.01 | — | 0.01 | — | |||||
Discrete tax (benefit) expense | (0.01) | 0.20 | (0.01) | 0.20 | |||||
Tax impact of reconciling items | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.04) | (0.02) | |||||
Adjusted earnings per share of common stock, diluted | $ 0.53 | $ 0.33 | $ 1.31 | $ 0.74 | |||||
Effective tax rate (GAAP) | 17.9 % | 71.9 % | 17.7 % | 41.0 % | |||||
Discrete tax benefit (expense) | 1.4 % | (53.5) % | 0.9 % | (23.9) % | |||||
Net impact of other reconciling items | 0.5 % | 0.6 % | 0.7 % | 0.9 % | |||||
Adjusted effective tax rate | 19.8 % | 19.0 % | 19.3 % | 18.0 % | |||||
Cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) | $ 106,415 | $ 87,485 | $ 220,661 | $ 170,612 | |||||
Capital expenditures | (2,639) | (1,452) | (6,928) | (6,147) | |||||
Free cash flow | $ 103,776 | $ 86,033 | $ 213,733 | $ 164,465 | |||||
Description of adjustments:
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company also provides various non-GAAP measures that incorporate adjustments for the impacts of special items. Adjustments incorporated in the preparation of these non-GAAP measures for the periods presented include the items described below:
Depreciation:
Acquisition and integration costs:
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets:
Reorganization charges:
Loss on sale of business:
Losses on sale of investments to fund acquisition:
Discrete tax (benefit) expense and tax impact of reconciling items:
About Cognex Corporation
For over 40 years, Cognex has been making advanced machine vision easy, paving the way for manufacturing and distribution companies to become faster, smarter, and more efficient through automation. Innovative technology in our vision sensors and systems solves critical manufacturing and distribution challenges, providing unparalleled performance across a diverse set of end markets, including logistics, consumer electronics, automotive, packaging, and semiconductor.
Cognex makes these tools more capable and easier to deploy thanks to a longstanding focus on AI, helping factories and warehouses improve quality and maximize efficiency without needing highly technical expertise. We are headquartered near Boston, USA, with locations in over 30 countries and more than 30,000 customers worldwide. Learn more at cognex.com.
Investor Relations Contact:
Greer Aviv
Head of Investor Relations
Cognex Corporation
Greer.Aviv@cognex.com
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